Giro d'Italia stage 13

Euskaltel showed their true colours on today's feared stage 13 to the top of the mythical Grossglockner. The team did excellent work at the front of the pack for more than 70 kilometres after missing out on the main break, every single one contributing. With the break within control and the final climb just about to start, Mikel Nieve showed what an excellent climber he is by setting a blistering pace at the head of the rapidly-diminishing lead group for several kilometres to set up team leader Antón. And Antón didn't let his team-mates down, putting Contador under pressure a couple of times with some bold attacks. El Pistolero rode away with the race as we all know, but Antón hung in there to take fifth, grabbing a few precious seconds on the other main GC candidates, and elevating himself to a lofty seventh on GC. It was an excellent and aggressive race by the little climber; he'll be out for more in the next two days make no mistake. After blowing the lead group apart for such a long time at the start of the climb, it was almost unreal to see Nieve cross the line in 16th place just 2:28 down and ahead of such esteemed riders like Sivtsov, Sella, Machao, Le Mevel and Garzelli. What a performance! Antón was naturally pleased with his team's ride today, saying "they were awesome", but again denied he's aiming for the GC despite the podium looking an ever-increasing possibility. Ahead of a pair of vital days in the saddle, he's just 53 seconds down on number two Nibali. Stage results:

• 5th, Igor Antón, 1:29
• 16th, Mikel Nieve, 2:28
• 96th, Jorge Azanza, 16:09
• 134th, Juan José Oroz, 20:43
• 136th, Inaki Isasi, s.t.
• 147th, Daniel Sesma, s.t.
• 155th, Pierre Cazaux, s.t.
• 166th, Javier Aramendía, 23:25
• 172nd, Miguel Minguez, s.t.